History Channel to bring back B'wood bigwigs

The show, Bollywood Bosses, to be aired by the channel from February 19, will put the spotlight on top Bollywood directors.

In its march into the entertainment segment, History Channel will showcase Bollywood directors in a special series - Bollywood Bosses - from Monday to put the spotlight on top directors of the Hindi film industry.

The programme will be aired every weeknight at 10 p.m. till February 24. According to media sources, History Channel has bought the rights of the original series that was earlier telecast on BBC channel.

"The channel is moving to entertainment from infotainment and this is one of the steps that takes it in that direction," they said.

"It is an attempt to understand why they are making that kind of cinema. Also, what are the things that distinguish them from other directors," Anita Horam, director of the show, told IANS.

The series will look back at the lives of the filmmakers and share the story of their journey - their struggles, box office lows, financial disasters - to finally finding unparalleled success.

"We have not tried to peep into their personal life so much, but yes we have brought forth their personal experiences that impact their cinema. Like when we were shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali, we went to the chawl where he was born and brought up. When we talked to him we tried to explain how his past experiences had affected his movies, which are grand and magnificent," Horam added.

Out of all the directors, Bhansali's episode was her favourite, says Horam. But she also confessed that she didn't have any problem convincing the directors.

"We thought we would have problems because these directors are hard pressed for time, but fortunately it went off very smoothly."

Horam, who has produced the show along with Ruchir Joshi, revealed it wasn't an expensive show.

"The show is a great example of the kind of entertaining programming that the History Channel offers its viewers," said Joy Bhattacharjya, senior vice president (programming).